Assisted Short-Throw Safety Selector for Firearm

ABSTRACT

Provided is an assisted short-throw safety selector for switching the firearm between a FIRE position and a SAFE position. The selector is interchangeable with any standard short-through safety selector and differs from the conventional selectors of this type by having a profiled camming surface that guides the spring-loaded safety detent. This profiled surface is modified so that in switching between the SAFE and FIRE positions the detent automatically falls into the FIRE position after passing through an inflection point of the profiled surface. For this purpose the FIRE position dimple is located at a lower level than the SAFE position dimple. The rapid fall automatic fall of the detent into the FIRE position dimple occurs after rotation of the selector by 80° to 20°, preferably 50° to 30°.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a firearm safety selector switch, and more particularly, to an assisted short-throw safety selector for firearm such as an AR15 rifle, M4-type firearm, or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In standard firearms of latest designs a safety selector switch can replace a conventional selector switch without need in modifications to the firearm receiver. A significant aspect of these rifles is the designed and specified interchangeability of the rifle's individual components, and each manufacturer of the firearm may produce its products to meet these interchangeability specifications.

A position of a typical interchangeable selector safety switch on a conventional firearm is shown in FIG. 1. A fire control safety selector 26 (hereinafter referred to merely as a “safety selector”) is rotationally mounted in a receiver 12. The safety selector 26 has a rotational selector core 114 (see FIG. 2, which is a top view of the selector 26). The selector core 114 may be rotated by the lever 102 (FIG. 4) in directions 116 shown in FIG. 1 for selecting the operation position of the safety selector and for interaction with the trigger 14.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the safety selector 26 can be rotated from the SAFE position to the FIRE position, and in reverse. In the SAFE position the selector core 114 engages the trigger 14 pivotally mounted in the receiver thereby fixing the sear to engage the hammer (not shown).

The safety selector 26 is shown as a one-sided member of a unitary or assembled construction with one lever 102. There exist two-sided versions for the safety selectors where the handles of the selector are installed on both sides of the same selector core.

In addition to the lever 102 and the selector core 114, the safety selector 26 (FIG. 2) further comprise support portions 158, 160. The support portions 158 and 160 rotationally support the selector 26 in the receiver 12. In the illustrated version the support portions 158 and 160 (FIG. 2) may have a common diameter, and the selector core 114 of fire safety selector 26 has a trigger locking surface 146. The selector core 114 may be cast of metal with the sections cast therein, however, in alternate embodiments such sections could be cut or machined.

As seen in FIG. 2, in the exemplary embodiment, the support portion 160 has a selector positioning or indexing features which are intended for engaging a spring loaded selector detent 72 shown in FIG. 1 by imaginary lines.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III of FIG. 2. These positioning or indexing features comprise dimples 164 and 166 and a circular groove that forms a guiding section 168. The dimples are intended for holding the fire control selector 26 in the selector position (e.g. “SAFE” or “FIRE”) and the guiding section is intended for guiding the selector detent 72 between the selector positions. In other words, dimples 164 and 166 are adapted to be engaged by the spring-loaded selector detent 72 (shown by broken lines in FIG. 1) located in the receiver for holding the fire safety selector 26 (FIG. 2) in each selectable position. The dimples are generally rounded or conical to complement a rounded or conical tip of the selector detent 72. Hence, the circumferential pitch between the adjacent dimples is the same as the angular distance between selector positions “SAFE” or “FIRE”.

In conventional firearms the aforementioned angular distance between the dimples 164 and 166 is normally about 90 degrees apart (see FIG. 3).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Firearms use a safety selector to switch from SAFE to FIRE and from FIRE to full auto fire (not shown). Conventionally, If SAFE is at 0 degrees, FIRE would be at about 90 degrees and FULL AUTO is at about 180 degrees. The firearm will have written or visual indicators to show where the selector is currently positioned. However, practice showed that having to move the selector from 0 degrees to 90 degrees is not efficient for rapid engagement situations. To resolve this issue, companies have started producing what are called short throw selectors. These selectors disengage safety at a reduced degree, for example 45 degrees, 60 degrees, etc. These modified selectors resolve the issue of having to move the selector from 0 degrees all the way to 90 degrees, but create a safety issue because when such replacement selectors are inserted into the receiver of a standard firearm, the selectors no longer match the indicators on the firearm. For example, when a short throw 45 degree safety selector is engaged, in the existing firearm the indicator will point to a location between the SAFE or FIRE positions and even though the selector is not in the FIRE position, the firearm may discharge a round.

Keeping the above problem in mind, the inventor herein developed an assisted short-throw safety selector that allows the operator to move the safety selector from 0 degrees, e.g., to about 45 degrees, and the safety selector will continue to move the rest of the way to about 90 degrees automatically without the assistance of the operator. The invention solves several issues: it resolves the issue of having to move the safety selector from 0 degrees to about 90 degrees, and it utilizes existing markings on the firearm to ensure proper use of the safe and fire indicators.

The above object is achieved by modifying the path of safety selector so as to assist the spring-loaded selector detent to automatically complete the about 90 degree position.

More specifically, the path of the standard spring-loaded selector detent has dimples where the spring-loaded selector detent rests. When the lever is moved from the SAFE position to the FIRE position, the spring-loaded selector detent is pushed out of the dimple of the SAFE position, travels an even or uneven grade path and then sharply falls into a dimple of a FIRE position which is located deeper in the body of the safety selector than the dimple of the SAFE position.

The device of the invention has a path for the fire spring-loaded selector detent which is modified as compared to the path of the conventional spring-loaded selector detent. When the lever of the selector is moved from the SAFE position to the FIRE position, the spring-loaded selector detent is pushed out of the SAFE-position dimple, travels an even or semi even grade path about half of the way and then begins to fall at a steep angle towards the deeper FIRE-position dimple that is located at a level lower from the surface of the guiding portion than the dimple for the SAFE position. In other words, when the user starts switching the safety selector from the SAFE position to the FIRE position, the spring-loaded spring-loaded selector detent automatically snaps in the respective deeper dimple after rotation of the selector's lever from about 20 to 80 degrees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a firearm receiver portion with a conventional firearm safety selector in a SAFE position.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a conventional firearm safety selector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 2 that shows a conventional profile of the path of the spring-loaded selector detent between the SAFE position and the FIRE position.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a firearm safety selector of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line of FIG. 4 that shows a profile of the path of the spring-loaded selector detent between the SAFE position and the FIRE position in the case of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a firearm safety selector switch, and more particularly to an assisted short-throw safety selector for firearm such as an AR15 rifle, M4-type firearm, or the like.

Since the firearm safety'selector of the invention is interchangeable with the conventional safety selectors designed for the standard firearms of the same type, in general they are the same in sight and configuration as conventional devices of this type, except for depth of the dimples and the profile of the surface used for guiding spring-loaded selector detent between the FIRE and SAFE positions. Therefore there is no need to repeat the positions and functions of the safety selector of the invention since they are the same as has been described with reference to the prior-art device.

In the following description, the parts and components of the safety selector 100 of the present invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, which are essentially similar to those of the prior-art selector shown in FIG. 2, will be designated by the same reference numerals but with an addition of letters “a” or “b”.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a firearm safety selector of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 4 that shows a profile of the path of the spring-loaded selector detent between the SAFE position and the FIRE position.

As mentioned above, the safety selector 100 of the invention is shown in FIG. 4, which is a top view of the selector. Although the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4 relates to a two-sided selector which has two levers 102 a and 102 b arrange on opposite sides of the selector core 114 (FIG. 2) for use of the safety selector 100 by both left-hander and right-hander, the principle of the invention is equally applicable to a one-sided version of the type shown in FIG. 2.

The profile of the guiding surface 168 a (FIG. 5) of the safety selector 100 is shown in FIG. 5. It also can be seen from FIG. 4 that, similar to the conventional safety selector 26, the assisted short-throw safety selector 100 of the present invention has two support portions 158 and 160. On the outer surface of at least one of its support portions, e.g., the support portion 160, the safety selector 100 has at least two dimples, e.g., SAFE position dimple 164 a and FIRE position dimple 166 a, and a guiding surface 168 a (FIG. 5) between the dimples 164 a and 166 a. In contrast to the conventional safety selector 26 of FIG. 2, where the guide surface 168 between the dimples 164 and 166 of the selector shaft 146 is an circular groove having a uniform depth on the entire circumferential length from the dimple 164 to the dimple 166 (FIG. 3). In the safety selector 100 of the invention, the guiding surface 168 a has the depth of FIRE position dimple 166 a greater than the depth of the SAFETY position dimple 164 a. Between the dimples 164 a and 166 a, the guiding surface 168 a may have a convex camming profiled portion that consists of an ascending portion 170, a descending portion 174, and an inflection portion 172 between the ascending portion 170 and descending portion 174. It is important to note that the descending portion 174 may descend deeper into the body of the safety selector 100 than the ascending portion 170. The ascending and descending portions 170 and 174, respectively, may have different profiles, provided that the descending portion is steeper and may provide automatic rapid drop of the spring-loaded pusher to the respective dimple 166 a after the plunger passed over the inflection point 172. Preferably, the profiles of the ascending and descending portions 170 and 174 should have smooth surfaces and such shapes that provide unobstructed sliding movement of the tip of the spring-loaded selector detent 72 (FIG. 1) over these surfaces.

When the handle 102 a (102 b) (FIG. 4) is moved from the SAFE position (FIG. 1) to the FIRE position, the spring-loaded selector detent 72 is pushed out of the dimple 164 a, travels the guiding surface 168 a and when passed over the inflection point 172, automatically falls into a deeper-level second dimple 166 a to engage the FIRE position.

Thus, the safety selector 100 of the invention has a modified path for movement of the fire spring-loaded selector detent 72. In other words, when the user starts switching the safety selector 100 from the SAFE position to the FIRE position, the spring-loaded selector detent 72 (FIG. 1) quickly and automatically snaps into the respective deeper-level dimple 166 a after rotation of the selector's handle 102 a (or 102 b) for about 20° to 80°. In other words, an angle α between the longitudinal axis A-A of the selector detent 72, when the detent 72 is snapped in the second dimple, i.e., in the FIRE position dimple, and a radial line R that extends from the center O of rotation of the safety selector 100 to the inflection point 172 is in the range of 80° to 20°, preferably 50° to 30° (FIG. 5).

It is understood that the safety selector 100 of the invention does not demand any changes in the shape or structure of the receiver 12, and positions of marks SAFE and FIRE remains the same as in FIG. 1 pertaining to the description of the prior art.

Although the invention was described with reference to specific example and illustrated in specific drawings, it is understood that these examples should not be construed as limitative and that any changes and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the attached patent claims. For example, the application of the safety switch selector of the invention is not limited by firearm such as an AR15 rifle, M4-type firearm and can be employed for fire arms of other types for which it may be appropriate. The selector may comprise an assembly rather than a monolithic part. Furthermore, although the description relates to switching of the safety selector from the SAFE position to the FIRE position, the same principle is applicable for switching of the safety selector from the FIRE position to FULL auto position shown in FIG. 1. In this case the selector is to be turned 180 degrees in the clockwise direction. Since in this case the principle of operation is the same as one described above, the description is not needed. 

1. An assisted short-throw safety selector for firearm having a receiver with at least a FIRE position and a SAFE position, a trigger for engagement with the short-throw safety selector, and a spring-loaded safety detent for fixing the assisted short-throw safety selector selectively at least in a first indexing position and in a second indexing position, the assisted short-throw safety selector comprising: an integral cylindrical body having one end with a first support portion, another end with a second support portion, and a selector core between the first support portion and the second supporting portion for engagement with the trigger; an indexing features on at least one of said support portions for engagement with the spring-loaded safety detent, the indexing features comprising: a guiding surface for engagement with the spring-loaded safety detent, the guide surface having at least a first dimple for fixing the spring-loaded safety detent in the SAFE position and the second dimple for fixing the spring-loaded safety detent in the FIRE position, wherein the first dimple is located deeper in the integral cylindrical body of the safety selector than the dimple of the SAFE position.
 2. The assisted short-throw safety selector of claim 1, which is interchangeable with a standard assisted short-throw safety selector for firearm having a receiver with at least a FIRE position and a SAFE position, a trigger for engagement With the short-throw safety selector, and a spring-loaded safety detent for fixing the assisted short-throw safety selector selectively at least in a first indexing position and in a second indexing position.
 3. The assisted short-throw safety selector of claim 2, wherein between the first dimple and the second dimple the guiding surface has a convex camming profiled portion that comprises an ascending portion, a descending portion, and an inflection portion between the ascending portion and descending portion.
 4. The assisted short-throw safety selector of claim 3, wherein the safety detent has a longitudinal axis, the throw safety selector has a center of rotation, and an angle between the longitudinal axis of the selector detent, when the detent is snapped in the second dimple, and a radial line that extends from the center of rotation of the safety selector to the inflection point is in the range of 80° to 20°.
 5. The assisted short-throw safety selector of claim 1, wherein the guiding surface comprises an ascending portion, an inflection portion, and a descending portion,
 6. The assisted short-throw safety selector of claim 5, which is interchangeable with a standard assisted short-throw safety selector for firearm having a receiver with at least a FIRE position and a SAFE position, a trigger for engagement with the short-throw safety selector, and a spring-loaded safety detent for fixing the assisted short-throw safety selector selectively at least in a first indexing position and in a second indexing position.
 7. The assisted short-throw safety selector of claim 6, wherein between the first dimple and the second dimple the guiding surface has a convex camming profiled portion that comprises an ascending portion, a descending portion, and an inflection portion between the ascending portion and descending portion.
 8. The assisted short-throw safety selector of claim 7, wherein the safety detent has a longitudinal axis, the throw safety selector has a center of rotation, and an angle between the longitudinal axis of the selector detent, when the detent is snapped in the second dimple, and a radial line that extends from the center of rotation of the safety selector to the inflection point is in the range of 80° to 20°. 